Chapter Text
Nico was washing his hands in the sink next to the counter. Clumps of dirt swirled down the drain. He had no problem with the hands-on part of the job and how messy it could get. He turned off the water then shook his hands clean of any droplets. Despite being a Saturday, the shop wasn’t busy. The clock on the wall was near to saying seven o’clock, closing time. A small pain flared in his stomach; he ignored it.
The bell dinged, and soon enough Hazel was next to him behind the counter. She reached into the display case, which had started to become empty, and placed a new batch of rings inside. Each one had a unique design on it, ranging from waves to flowers to large gemstones. And not the tacky kind of gemstones either.
“So guess what?” she said as she restocked.
Nico took his place next to her at the counter, leaning against it. “You earned an A in your chemistry class.”
Hazel scoffed. “Imagine. Classes aren’t even over yet, Neeks.” She placed another dark black ring in the display case. “No, it’s not that. Lou Ellen invited me to her Valentine’s Day party next weekend. She told me I should invite you.”
He groaned. “Haze, I barely like going to parties on a good day. I don’t even know Lou Ellen.”
“Buuuut,” Hazel said, sticking a finger in the air, “she specifically said that Will was going to be there. Why would she mention that otherwise? Clearly he asked her if you could go!”
Her excitement got to him for a second. Only a second though, and then he was back to being rational. Nico shook his head. “I appreciate it, but I can’t get my hopes up. Not when he literally has a girlfriend! Besides, I’m not feeling well today.”
Hazel stopped in her tracks. She set the remaining rings on the counter. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
“It’s not anything bad,” Nico assured her. “I just feel these sharp pains near my hip.” He shrugged it off. “Nothing I can’t handle.”
She sized him up for a second to detect a lie. Then, Hazel brought a hand to his abdomen and pressed slightly. In an instant, the pain almost had him doubled over. He winced and backed away.
“Liar,” Hazel said. “We’re going home. Now.”
He tried to put up an argument, but it was difficult to argue with Hazel. She never relented once she had her mind set on something. Besides, if Nico didn’t sit down within the next five minutes, he felt like he could pass out.
“But we can’t just leave the shop-”
“We close in thirty minutes,” she reminded him. “I don’t think anyone will be coming here anytime soon. Let’s go.” He couldn’t argue with that. It took him a bit to lock up and get all the way to Hazel’s car, especially with the pain limiting his movements.
As soon as they got home, Hazel ordered him to go to bed. He made no attempt to resist and trudged to his bedroom. Cat looked a bit startled at how zombie-like Nico looked, but he curled back to his position near the window.
The pain in his stomach didn’t fade, but Nico somehow managed to fall asleep. Or perhaps he actually had passed out. Whatever the case was, he woke when the sun was rising. Hazel had come into his bedroom and shook him awake. “You didn’t even eat dinner last night,” she said. “Do you want some breakfast?”
Nico curled in on himself, facing away from her. “Not hungry,” he mumbled.
“Maybe you should go to the doctor’s.”
He shook his head.
“If you’re not going to eat, I’m taking you to the doctor’s. Get up,” she said. He groaned and got up when she nearly pushed him off the bed. Pain flared through his hip, his stomach, his abdomen. Unlike last night, Hazel had to help him to the car, in and out of the doctor’s office.
The two waited impatiently at the doctor’s. Everything passed by in a blur. It was hard to keep track of all the moving parts and pieces. Nico felt a bit sluggish despite sleeping for- probably more than twelve hours, right?
The doctor asked some routine questions. He didn’t pay much attention, answering with the most bare minimum answers. It wasn’t long for the doctor to stop writing notes, click his pen shut, and tell Nico that he should go to the hospital. “It’s possible you have appendicitis.”
That made sense. The diagnosis rolled off Nico’s back. Hazel nodded and the two made the trek to the emergency room. Again, everything seemed to happen all at once. Nico was too overwhelmed with pain to notice all the finer details. His entire body felt hot; the last doctor had told him he had a slight fever consistent with appendicitis.
Another doctor took him after waiting for hours in the emergency room and did some tests. As the first doctor suspected, he did have appendicitis. Again, it was all happening too quickly, but soon enough they were discussing surgery.
Nico perked up, then immediately shrunk back from the pain. “Surgery? Are you sure that’s necessary?” he asked.
Hazel and the doctor shared a look. “Your appendix is inflamed. And if you don’t get treatment, this pain is going to get a lot worse,” the doctor told him.
Nico groaned and sat back. “Okay.”
The doctor told him that they’d schedule him for a surgery very early the next morning- 7 am. Nico didn’t even get up at that time on the best of days. Still, he reluctantly agreed. Until then, he had to stay in the hospital and take some pain medication.
Hazel stayed with him once the doctor left. “Hey, it’s gonna be all good,” she said, patting his hand. “Maybe we can call Jason and Reyna, have them come in with some things to keep us busy?”
That… actually didn’t sound horrible. Jason had class, but Reyna arrived after a half hour. She brought Pictionary with her, solely because she knew this game always started arguments in the di Angelo-Levesque family. Frank also stopped by. He and Nico weren’t too close, but they got along well.
They all gathered around to play Pictionary. Frank looked between the two siblings. “Are we sure this is a good idea? I know how you guys get.”
“Can’t be worse than Fourth of July of 2010,” Nico piped up. If Reyna or Frank asked for elaboration, they didn’t receive any. No one discussed Fourth of July 2010.
Halfway through the third round, Hazel shouted that that is NOT how you draw an egg, Nico and Nico replied with, “You can’t yell at the boy in the hospital, Hazel, just let me have this!”
Jason decided to poke his head into the room. “Did I come at a bad time?” he asked sheepishly.
Voices overlapped as they tried to explain the immense cheating and creative liberties in the game. Jason raised his hands. “I’m not going to participate- you all know I can’t draw.”
“But that’s part of the fun!” said Frank. “You think I’m any better?”
The group had their fun until the sun set. A nurse came into the room to tell them that visiting hours were wrapping up. Reyna, Frank, and Jason filtered out. Hazel stayed behind. “Do you want me to stay here overnight with you?” she asked.
Nico shook his head. “No, I’ll be fine. I’m really exhausted. As soon as you leave, I’ll be sleeping until they wake me up for the surgery. No point in you staying. Besides, you have to take my shift at the store.”
She searched him for any sign of a lie, then nodded. “It’s going to be all good. I’ll try to visit you after the surgery, before the shift starts.” Hazel kissed his cheek and left.
Like expected, Nico closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, which was perhaps the quickest he’d done that in his entire life.
---
The surgery went okay. Or at least, Nico assumed it did. He woke up from it, didn’t he? And when he did wake up, he was groggy and drowsy. His body was a bit numb from anesthesia, but the pain in his abdomen was gone and that’s all that really mattered.
An hour after surgery, around ten am, Hazel visited. She brought his phone and a pack of cards to play Solitaire with. The visit didn’t last long; Nico was still a bit loopy and drowsy from the surgery. They spoke with the doctor who told them that they’d keep Nico there until he could eat and walk on his own, which likely wouldn’t take long- maybe another day at most.
Hazel stayed with him for as long as possible, but around 10:30 Nico’s eyes were drooping. She bid her goodbyes which was just as well since her/Nico’s shift started an hour later.
Nico woke up to the nurse putting a tray with applesauce and peanut butter and jelly sandwich. “We tried to keep the meal light,” she said, “so we don’t upset your stomach. Eat what you can, and press the button if you need any assistance.” She left him alone to eat.
He had to admit, he was a bit hungry. Within the past two days, the pain near his stomach made it almost impossible for him to eat. Now he enjoyed the way the applesauce melted on his tongue. Even the peanut butter and jelly sandwich tasted good, which is how Nico knew he was starving. He polished the meal quickly.
Luckily Hazel had given him his phone to satiate any boredom. He lay on his back (laying on his side was a bit too painful at the moment), tapping away at stupid games like that flappy duck one or the one in the temple. Jason couldn’t make it in person because he had three classes today, but he spared a thirty minute video chat around 2:00.
“So if Octavian ever goes missing, you know why,” Jason said, wrapping up his third rant about his roommate within the month.
Nico chuckled. “I’d help you hide the body.”
Jason rolled his eyes. “You’d be the best person to ask. I feel like you’d know the best way to do it.”
He reclined back a bit more in the hospital bed. “A magician never reveals their secrets.” The conversation lulled until Nico spoke up again. “I hate being in here. For so many reasons.”
Jason at least seemed sympathetic. His smile vanished. “I know you don’t like being babied and you’d rather just be at the flower shop. Isn’t today the day Will usually comes in?” he asked.
Nico sighed. He no longer turned red at the mention of Will, though the embarrassment still lurked under the surface. Seriously, how shameless did he have to be to like someone who was taken? “Yeah, it is. He probably talked to Hazel, like-” He checked the clock “-fifteen minutes ago. But that isn’t even the reason I’m upset.”
Jason gave him a look he’d usually expect from Reyna: a really? with a single raised eyebrow. Gods, they’d been hanging out too much.
He backtracked to correct himself. “Okay, that’s part of the reason. I’d prefer to be on my feet now than contained in this stupid bed, doing nothing. But it’s difficult to be in the hospital after Bianca…” He trailed off.
It had been well over three years, but the situation still hurt his heart. Bianca had fallen ill in her sophomore year of college at Olympus. It didn’t take long until she was confined in a hospital room for weeks at a time. Months after initially being put in the hospital, she passed away. Nico had wondered, when he was being carted off to the doctor’s, if this was how Bianca felt. She’d put on a brave face for her family, but Nico knew she felt an immense amount of pain. He’d wished he could share the burden with her. Even now, in the hospital bed, Nico felt antsy; he wanted to get up and do something.
Jason remained silent for a long moment. “I know it’s difficult to be there and be reminded of her. But you all did what you could to make her feel comfortable and happy. And she was, for the most part, as long as she had you around.”
The words of comfort caused an ache so sharp, he wondered if the doctor hadn’t even removed his appendix. In a strange way, they eased his mind; not completely, but just enough. Jason always knew what to say. “Thanks, Jason,” he said.
The two continued to talk until Jason looked at the clock. “It’s almost time for my next class, so I gotta go. Hang in there, you only have another day.”
Nico grimaced at the reminder and said his goodbyes. He still was a bit spent and tired, but he took out the deck of cards Hazel had given him. He set it up for Solitaire and began to play, only half paying attention. At some point, his phone gave him a notification for low battery, though Hazel hadn’t given him a charger. He groaned, then noticed another message from Hazel, a half-hour earlier.
Hazel: let’s just say there is going to be a big surprise for you soon
The thought of a ‘surprise’ made him apprehensive. Sure, most times Hazel meant well. He just hoped it wasn’t anything too big. Perhaps the surprise was a new deck of Mythomagic cards. Or perhaps the surprise was that he could leave the hospital early.
As he fantasized on what Hazel’s message meant, a knock came from the door. That was strange in and of itself since the door was wide open; anyone could come in if they wanted. Nico looked up from the cards on his tray and almost died.
Why, of all places, was Will Solace in the hospital? Even better, why was he in Nico’s room? Nico’s face went pale, deathly so, and he considered himself lucky he wasn’t rigged up to any heart monitors. On the other hand, he still lost because why, of all things, did Will Solace have to see him while he was dressed only in a hospital gown?
Nico nearly convinced himself he was still dreaming and this was all a nightmare. Unfortunately, he realized it wasn’t when he took in the finer details. Will had on a plain blue thermal and blue jeans, a fairly standard outfit. He dragged behind himself a large cart filled with vases.
And those vases were filled with single flowers. Sunflowers, in fact.
Will wheeled the cart over, beaming brighter than Nico had ever seen. “Hey, Nico. I, um, heard from Hazel what happened when I went in for the flower order today.”
It overwhelmed him, each thought drifting in and out of his brain in a fast current. “What are you doing here?” he asked, a bit stupidly.
Will picked up a vase from the cart and placed it on Nico’s tray, right next to the cards. “I volunteer here, remember? I give out flowers and keep patients company. Also ask them if they need anything. It gets lonely in this ol’ hospital.” He chuckled but broke off when he realized Nico was still blinking up at him like a deer caught in headlights. “Wait, do you really not know what I’m talking about?”
The entire picture didn’t click into place right away. “So you’re a candy striper?”
Will shrugged. “That’s an old-fashioned term but I guess I am. What did you think I came into the flower shop for? I get all the flowers for the patients that I visit, duh.”
This was the part that confused Nico the most. “What are you talking about? What about Katie?”
Will knit his brows together. “What about Katie? Wh- Oh, Katie! She’s one of the long term patients here. We’ve become pretty good friends. She really enjoys gardening, which is a bit hard to do here so I always take requests for what flowers she wants.”
Nico gaped at him. “So. She’s not your girlfriend?”
The silence was deafening and Nico knew his answer. Will nearly laughed, then caught himself. “No, she’s not my girlfriend. Is that what you thought this whole time?”
Nico buried his face in his hands. “How was I supposed to know? You talked about her when you bought the flowers, so I thought- wow, I’ve never felt this stupid before.”
Will came a bit closer, now sitting at the bedside chair. “You’re not stupid. I should have clarified or thought about- it’s my bad.” His cheeks burned red. “Listen, I talked to Hazel when I was going to get these. She told me about your appendix and everything. You alright?”
He nodded. “Yeah, it hurt for a while, but I got it removed. Hopefully I can go home soon. This place is my hell.”
Will laughed. “I don’t blame you.” Something sobered his features- a realization, maybe. He became apprehensive. “I also talked to Hazel about you. I told her that- well, that I liked you and she encouraged me to talk to you. Unless she led me completely astray for her own entertainment, I’m assuming that you like me too? And maybe want to go on a date?”
If Nico wasn’t glitching before, he certainly was now. No freaking way. This had to be some sort of dream. He’d say it was a prank, but that didn’t feel like Will or Hazel’s style. “Yes,” he found himself saying. “I can’t believe it took me going to a hospital and Hazel telling you to go for it, but yes.”
“Hey, you could have asked me out at any time!” said Will defensively.
Nico crossed his arms. A part of him knew there was no way he looked intimidating while laying in the hospital bed, still pale as a ghost from the surgery. “You can’t blame me for sticking to the workplace sexual harassment rules.” He paused, then continued. “By the way, I never got a chance to tell you, but I got into Olympus. I’ll be attending next year.”
If Will could light up even more, the whole room would be glowing. “No way! That’s amazing. I’m really glad.” Another pause followed, and he said, “I don’t know if you’ll be recovered by then, but do you want to go to Lou Ellen’s Valentine’s Day party this weekend as my date?”
“That’s a bit cliche, isn’t it Solace? But fine- just for you. Don’t complain when I’m not the life of the party.”
Will agreed, and Nico again appreciated the fact that he wasn’t hooked up to a heart monitor. He looked over his shoulder at the door. “I have to go and give all of these out and talk with some patients for a bit. I might be back in an hour. Crap, I need to text Austin and Kayla about this. Lou Ellen and Cecil, too.” He kept rambling as he rolled the cart away and into the hall.
Nico smiled to himself. A date with Will Solace and a fresh start at the university. Life was looking up, though Nico still couldn’t believe Will asked him out while he looked on death’s door.
Perhaps he was being a bit dramatic.
He reminded himself to scream with Hazel once he got out of the hospital, and then invite Jason and Reyna too. After all, he did owe Hazel for this one, because no doubt she practically orchestrated it from the second Will walked into the shop that day.